Isaiah 6: 1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. 4And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
Let’s look at how much this relates to us right now. I’m thankful that no matter what we see around us, we can see the Lord. Regardless of what fills the field of our vision, if we’ll look we will see something else.
At times it feels like the Lord is smothered out and everything is out to defeat us. If it’s not health, it’s work or family. Out of the blue you get persecuted for your faith. Today’s paper had almost a full-page article about Christians in another county praying that one of these modern-day cults wouldn’t move in. The Christians were portrayed as radical, fanatical extremists. We knew the time would come when simple Christianity would be painted in a bad light. It’s another sign of the times.
Isaiah realized that a good leader was gone, and he watched the nation turn to the point that sin ruled. Without Uzziah’s leadership, idolatry took the land. In later chapters God kept telling his people there were no other gods. He had to defend himself to his own people. Isaiah saw it just as we see it today. He saw the God-fearing ruler die. He saw the rapid spiritual dilapidation. It was almost too much. He felt used up and defeated. That’s what the devil wants, but something helped Isaiah. He saw all the bad, but he saw also the Lord. He didn’t see him as a has-been like the world was seeing him. He saw him on a throne, high and lifted above the reach of sinful man and evil doings to bring it down.
The Lord is still out of the reach of the wicked. Let men do what they may, but nothing is high enough before our holy God. God was God long before we were born. When we trusted him, the power of salvation saved us. Paul said “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…it is the power of God unto salvation.” No matter how dim the vision is, there is more to it than we see. There is an also—there is also the Lord. He is sitting on his throne, not about to fall off it. He dominates. Jesus was lifted up in suffering so we could be saved. We have a relationship with the high and Almighty One.
It helped Isaiah when we saw this. There is plenty to lament about, and we should. However, when we keep the Lord in our vision, we see our shortcomings clearer. We see ourselves as we are. We’re not so quick to see the faults of others. Isaiah said “woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” He realized more about himself when he saw the Lord. The key to other people being delivered is our seeing who is on the throne, seeing who is in charge, seeing who is above all. When we see our shortcomings and repent, we experience a revival of our heart that touches others.
Isaiah saw all the glory that was taking place. The seraphim cried “holy, holy, holy.” No power could go against him. The temple was filled with the border of his kingly garment. The devil is not king! He is not in charge! He can call us anything he likes as long as it’s an old-time Christian. Just like the song says, I’d rather be one than anything I know.
Let’s allow our light to shine. Isaiah’s life turned the nation around. It made a difference for Israel. Our life can do the same for those around us.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 